Wizards suffer clinical defeat

WARRINGTON Wizards suffered a clinical defeat in The Co-operative Rugby League Conference National at Wilderspool Stadium as Hemel Stags continued their fine recent run to consolidate fourth place in the league table.
The Stags were intent on revenge for their narrow 23-22 defeat to the Wizards at Hemel earlier in the season and despite going behind thoroughly dominated for most of the game against a gutsy Wizards side who never gave up.
The Wizards opened the scoring in the fifteenth minute when good work close to the Hemel line saw the ball reach second row Paul Reynolds who managed to squeeze over in the left corner. Hooker Warren Ayres added a fine touchline conversion but then four minutes later a penalty on the Wizards twenty metre line saw Stags scrum half Ryan Butcher find substitute Connor Boyd-Barnes who powered over on the left. Butcher converted to level the scores.
Hemel hit the front just after the midway point of the half when a break down the left by centre Eddie M’Baraga split the Wizards defence and a quick play the ball saw the ball whipped along the line for prop forward Guy Adlam to go over on the right. Butcher goaled and three minutes later a high kick on the last tackle by Stags stand off Jason Price was fumbled by the Wizards and Boyd-Barnes collected to score on the left.
The Stags increased their lead when another high kick from price was again fumbled in the Wizards in-goal area and Boyd-Barnes pounced on the loose ball to complete his hat trick. Butcher converted and a minute before the break good work down the left saw Stags loose forward Illija Radan break through some weak defence to score and give his side a deserved 26-6 half time advantage.
Hemel started the second half as the ended the first and three minutes into it second row Seb Ward made a break down the left and he found centre Mitch Henderson who raced forty metres to score, Butcher converted and four minutes later after substitute Tom Sadler had been held short a quick play the ball saw Butcher put second row Seb Ward over wide on the right.
The Wizards responded when good work from winger Taylor Wheat and Reynolds put them deep into the Hemel half and Ayres found prop forward Dan Stubbs who stepped round the cover defence to score under the posts and give Ayres a simple conversion but again the Stags hit back when a slice kick on the last tackle by Butcher was collected by second row Tom Thompson-Essex who score on the right and Butcher converted.
Just before the hour mark a kick to the corner by Wizards scrum half Chris Campbell was brilliantly collected by winger Christian Taylor and he managed to get the ball down for a debut try but then a mistake from the kick off saw the ball out from the scrum to centre Eddie M’Baraga who forced his way over on the left. Butcher added the extras.
Hemel brought up their half century when full back Barry-John Swindells broke through and raced thirty metres to score on the left and then quick hands stretched the Wizards defence and M’Baraga went over on the left. Butcher added both conversions.
The brave Wizards refused to give up and finished the game with a flourish when a penalty on the Stags ten metre line was taken quickly by Campbell and he put Taylor over in the right corner for his second try and then in the final minute Reddecliff kicked straight from a scrum in his own half and centre Darren Forshaw chased down field and forced an error by the Stags and Reddecliff was following up to hack on and collect to score under the posts. Ayres converted to complete the scoring as the Stags ran out convincing 60-26 winners.
Best for the Wizards were Paul Reynolds, Paul Alcock, Mike Rosson and Warren Ayres.
Warrington Wizards entertain Coventry Bears in the Co-operative Rugby League Conference National this coming Saturday afternoon. Kick off is 3.30pm at Wilderspool Stadium and follows the Warrington Wolves Under 20s clash with Wakefield Trinity Wildcats.

WIZARDS
Craig Middlemore, Taylor Wheat, Liam Walsh, Darren Forshaw, Christian Taylor, Alan Reddecliff, Chris Campbell, Mike Rosson, Warren Ayres, Dan Stubbs, Paul Reynolds, Shaun Gilmour, Paul Alcock.
Subs:Jordan Unsworth, Mark Robinson, Dan Faulkner, Mike Leicester.